Poliphilo's Strife of Love in a Dream

A detailed woodcut illustration is contained within a black rectangular border. It shows a massive, multi-level architectural monument. The base is a wide building of one story with a central entrance. This portal consists of a doorway topped with a triangular pediment and flanked by columns. A row of small, square niches or windows decorates the base. A tall, stepped pyramid with many levels rises from the roof of this base. At the very top of the pyramid sits a tall, tapering obelisk. Two winged mythical creatures rest at the foot of the obelisk. A winged figure, likely representing Fame or the goddess of Opportunity, stands at the peak of the obelisk. The entire monument is set within a courtyard paved with a grid pattern. Lush bushes or trees stand on both sides of the main entrance. Tall, slender vertical shapes, possibly cypress trees or sheer rock faces, frame the central structure on the left and right sides.

pyramid, obelisk, architecture, monument, woodcut, winged figure, portal